There are only two things that matter with a business website:
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Getting found ahead of your competitors
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Converting visitors to either buyers or contacts
Nothing else is important for a business website!
However, there are so many options out there today including search engine optimization, pay-per-click, blogging, social marketing, and a myriad of others. How is a business owner supposed to know which method works best or is best suited to their business?
What’s the most effective form of website marketing?
First let me say that almost all forms of website marketing can be effective if done by a knowledgeable professional. And, of course, it depends on the business you’re in. Different types of campaigns have been found to be more effective for different types of businesses.
However, one fact remains. Effective search engine optimization is still the only way to move ahead of your competitors in the search engines. And search engines are how the vast majority of people on the web find what they are looking for.
The proof is all around you
I can quote you all kinds of statistics to “prove” SEO is the most effective form of website marketing. But all you really need to do is look around you. Talk to family and friends, talk to your employees, talk to other business owners and then think about what you do when you want to find a service or product. Where do you turn to first?
Should you try “do-it-yourself” search engine optimization?
A lot of smaller business owners try to do their own Search Engine Optimization campaign or Pay Per Click program. And unfortunately, because there’s so much misinformation out there, they wind up losing time and money. You turn to accountants to handle your money effectively, investment counselors to manage your retirement funds, and attorneys to guide your legal affairs.
Pay a professional to get you ahead of your competitors in the search engines.
Organic Search Engine Optimization is the only way to get to the first page of Google, MSN or Yahoo. As a business owner, here are the facts you need to know:
- Search engine optimization takes time. It requires research, making changes to your website, waiting for those changes to take effect, and then analyzing those effects to determine the next changes required to move you higher.
- Search engine optimization is always changing. The only thing the search engines care about is getting better results for searchers. They don’t care about your business or helping you make a sale. Therefore, they are constantly changing their search algorithms. That means your site must be regularly modified to stay ahead of your competitors.
- Search engine optimization isn’t cheap. Unless you look at it in the proper perspective. Just like any marketing program, your initial outlay is very high. However, if the campaign is effective, as your traffic increases and the campaign increases revenues, your return on investment makes the initial outlay look like a smart business decision.
- “Do-it-yourself” SEO is very expensive. Owners of very small businesses or start-ups often have to do their own marketing, accounting, etc., simply because they can’t afford to pay someone to do it. But as your business grows, you begin to realize that “do-it-yourself” doesn’t make sense. Your time is too valuable. You need to pay competent professionals to handle everything else while you focus on running the business.
If your business is too small for you to afford to pay someone to search engine optimize your website, here are some articles that can help you at least make certain that your website covers the basics of SEO.
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What is Search Engine Optimization and How Does it Really Work?
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What You Absolutely Must Know About Search Engine Optimization
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Who Needs Search Engine Optimization and Why?
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If You Want to Know What Google Thinks is Proper Search Engine Optimization…Ask Them
More Resources for “do-it-yourself” Search Engine Optimization
These articles can also be very useful if you want your site optimized by a professional and want to make certain you can effectively discuss SEO with potential search engine optimization firms.
If you’re ready to talk to a trustworthy professional about moving your website up in the search engine rankings to get more traffic, more sales or more contacts, call Bob at 612-226-7667 or send us an email. We’ll help you dominate the web.